Author Topic: brass cleaning ideas (Read 996 times)

Scibaer · « **on:** January 27, 2008, 04:37:09 AM »

has anyone come up with a home made case tumbler, or have a good simple way of cleaning fired brass ?
if i can get away from having to buy a electric or manual tumbler i'd be willing to go that route and see how it goes.
any ideas ?

Grumulkin · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2008, 07:16:17 AM »

The simplest and best way to clean fired brass I know of is an electric case tumbler.

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2008, 07:23:06 AM »

A good tumbler is money well spent. You can make one but probably won't save that much. I have 2 but prefer the Lyman with the auto flow

Lead pot · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2008, 08:59:54 AM »

I use a tumblers tumbler with water and ceramic Medea ands coolaid
It will make the case inside and out look as new, primer pockets and all.

Kurt

adirondacker · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2008, 09:25:33 AM »

an old friend,passed away now,was tired of not being able to do enough large brass at once.he shot a lot of 30/06,and liked to to large batches say 500 or at a shot.his wifes clothes dryer quit heating but still rotated,with a little duct tape over the vents and the blower disconnected he had a pretty darned big tumbler.seems like it held at least 50 lbs of media.he set it up on his back porch,i think with the heat elements unhooked/not working it only needed 120v.worked pretty good as i recall.i don't remember how many brass could be done at a time but it was a pile.myself,i prefer the lyman,i have the 1200 uniflow,although i find it easier to just dump the brass and sift it,oh and walnut media seems to be quickest.
how bout one hooked up to a stationary excersize bike,i bet that would work pretty good,get your excercise and some clean brass.lol

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2008, 01:01:50 AM »

I understand your interest in saving some money on reloading equipment. I am a do-it-yourselfer and will build anything I can before buying. I just do not see how you can build something for the cost of a vibrating brass cleaner with satisfactory results. You can buy a vibrating tumbler in the $50 - $60 dollar range. Unless you have just the right junk laying around to make something satisfactory, lay down your hard earned cash and do it right. I bought a Tumbler's Tumbler years ago (before the vibratory types came out) and I am still using it. There was a thread not long ago about putting media in a cloth bag with suitable media and running it in a clothes dryer. It would have to make a heck of a racket and not sure if the results would be satisfactory and do not know if your wife would put up with it. I have talked to my wife about using the oven to bake on finishes and got that shot down right away.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2008, 01:06:03 AM »

I almost forgot about the liquid methods of cleaning brass. You can purchase a kit that consists of a 5 gal bucket, a dipping basket and concentrated brass cleaner. You mix water with the concentrate in the 5 gal bucket and then dip the brass in the solution for a period of time. I think it cleans the brass, but does not polish it. It ends up with a dull brass finish.

buffermop · « **Reply #7 on:** January 28, 2008, 03:39:11 AM »

Check out Ebay for a used one. Some real super deals at times.

Lead pot · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2008, 06:21:04 AM »

I have a friend that is heavy in this trigger pulling race gun shooting

and he kept complaining his Dillon case cleaner was not big enough to keep up cleaning the cases.
I suggested getting one of those small tumbling cement mixers, well he did and is now as happy as a Fox in the Chicken pen.
He is using ceramic media with Sagebrush liquid case cleaner solution.

Kurt

DDelle338 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 28, 2008, 07:19:52 AM »

I made one out of an old Ice Cream Freezer. Been using it for about 9 years now. It works too good to think about buying a REAL tumbler. Yea, I'm frugal (read... CHEAP).

quickdtoo · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2008, 07:39:49 AM »

Glenn,

Here are some decent buys on vibratory cleaners, I use one of the Frankfort Arsenals that are very similar to the two below, it can be found on sale for $35-$40. They work very well with crushed walnut shells which can be picked up at a pet supply store, add a little tumbling additive a couple times a year and you're good to go. I use an old wok and a vegetable BBQ basket to sift the media from the cleaned cases.

Tim

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000157631318

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00194TA04835

RCBS on sale at Cabelas

Scibaer · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2008, 09:42:29 AM »

i guess im looking at buying a tumbler then. i though for sure there'd be a old timer or whoever who had a nifty way of cleaning up brass. i think i'll pass on the cement mixer, clothes dryer, margarita mixer ideas and get me a tumbler.
the ebay idea sounds good, maybe i'll take a peek there and see what i can find, before going the midway / shooters supply route.
im not being cheap, im 'exploring my options'

..
thanks all,
glenn

tvc15 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2008, 12:23:48 PM »

I clean range brass with a mix of vinegar lemon juice and water to get the dirt off. Then I rinse with cold water stick them in some Iosso for few seconds, rinse with hot water and let them dry overnight.

I bought a quart container last year and probably cleaned 500 rounds with 1/3 of the bottle. It cleans them up real shinny

TVC15

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2008, 12:30:14 PM »

To the people that use liquid

Do you do this before depriming and sizing? To prolong the life of my sizing die I like to have the brass clean before sizing but don't want to get liquid trapped in the primer pocket

Lead pot · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2008, 03:08:22 PM »

Since I shoot black powder I deprime with a universal die I don't size my cases, then soak them in soapy water a few minutes and throw them in the tumbler with the seramic media and water with a cap full of cleaner and let them tumble for a couple hours dump them over a window screen clasefier and put them in the oven at 300 degs for 20 minutes if I'm in a hurry to reload them or let the sun dry them.
They shine better then new cases and the primer pockets are also clean.
I have found nothing that works better and the Media lasts for ever,three years so far for me.

Kurt

tvc15 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 30, 2008, 12:20:55 PM »

I wash the brass with the vinegar/lemon juice/water before depriming or re sizing. TVC15

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2008, 01:54:14 PM »

Quote from: tvc15 on January 30, 2008, 12:20:55 PM

I wash the brass with the vinegar/lemon juice/water before depriming or re sizing. TVC15

Do you find moisture in the primer pocket when you punch the old primer out?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2008, 11:01:09 AM »

Glenn, if you're not in any hurry to get the case cleaner, Midsouth has theirs on sale for $30 available in April.

Tim

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=047-sr100&fromsearch=yes&submit=GO

Scibaer · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2008, 01:18:12 PM »

Thanks Tim, thats sounds just about right.. i'll ckeck on that in April

quickdtoo · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2008, 01:24:42 PM »

If you preorder now, you get it for $27!! In April the price will be $40.

Tim